The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-12-30

rHE TERRIBLE surrERlNes or WHOLE
FAMILIES IN TIE WEST.


TOPEKA, Kan, December PA
armeI named l. G. Clark, living near
Golden, Grant county, left bis family
at home Monday to go to Hartland,
the nearest railroad point, for the pur-
pose of getting coal, his family being
entirely without fuel He left Hart
land late Monday evening with his
coal and the next morning was found
about six miles from home lying by
the side of his horses frozen stiff. The
animals were also frozen and all Of the
bodies were partly covered by snow.
Clark's wife and three children had
in the meantime nearly perished and
had only saved themselves from death
by leaving the shell of a house and
taking refuge from the blizzard in a
cave.
Two deaths are reported from
Greeley county, situated on the Color
ado line. A brother and sister named
Robert and Sarah Holseapfel, who
lived on claim in an unsettled por-
ton of the county, found themselves
without fuel Sunday evening. They
tore down small shed to burn the
lumber and that night all but the
small amount which they had them
selves burned was stolen from them.
Early in the morning the young
man went to the town OF Horace,
about seven miles distant, and succeed
ed in getting two hundred pounds of
coal late in the afternoon. Being OBJ
liged to travel against the furious wind
then blowing he did not reach home
until nearly midnight. His limbs we're
then numb, and he was so exhausted
that it was with great difficulty he
gained admission to the house. He
found his sister in bed, insensible and
almost stiff. She had been without
fire all day, and the poorly built house
afforded her little protection. AL
though the young man was almost
frozen himself he tried to revive his
sister, but to no avail
The other death reported from
Greeley county is that of farmer 60
years old, whose name cannot BE-
learned. He lived alone and was not
only without fuel, but without food.
Being a recent settler in the county
he had no acquAintances.
MOTHER AND CHILDREN FROZEN.
A widow named Mrs. Reilly and
her two children perished in the storm
of Monday night near Dighton, in
Lane county. They we're without fuel
and the storm came so suddenly upon
them that they were unable to get it.
The woman's oldest son started out in
the storm to get coal. He was over
come by the intense cold, but FORUM
ately wandered to the house of
neighbor He was unable TO speak
and his arms, feet and ears we're froz-
en-. By strenuous efforts his life was
saved, although he will probably lose
his teet
There are also reports of great suf-
fering in Clark county. on the Indian
Territory line. A family of four were
travelling overland, and being but ten
miles from home and several miles
from any other house, determined to
reach home that night in spite OF the
terrible storm. The horses were over
come and the family were Obliged to
abandon the horses and wagon and
walk miles to the nearest house. A
wo-year-old child froze to death in its
fathers arms before shelter was reach
ed. The Others reached the house
badly frozen.
The condition of the people in
Western and Southwestern Kansas is
very bad. This part of the State has
been only recently settled and some
of the counties are still unorganized.
Nearly all the people settled on gov
ernment claims and were without
money. depending entirely on the crop
to be raised this fall. The crop. how
ever, was total failure because of
drought, leaving the people as gen.
eral thing destitute. The majority of
the people live in rudely built houses
which afford very little protection.